Results 9,461-9,480 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table. It should be noted that over the past few years some divisions have been restructured and/or have changed division name. Hence there are no figures for some divisions for particular years. It should also be noted that responsibility for Regional and Local Roads, the Roads Inspectorate and Driver and Vehicle...

Defence Forces Deployment. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: This is only the preamble. The question has not been asked yet.

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the Deputies opposite for the opportunity to outline the background to the current industrial relations dispute at the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports and to bring Deputies up to date with the air traffic control problems at the three State airports. I am very disappointed that air traffic controllers are disrupting the...

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I like the way Deputy Broughan presents matters. This is not just something that befell us. It is a deliberate action by a small group of well paid people.

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: That is what it is. Let us not dress it up in any other fashion. It is an unnecessary action.

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: As Deputy Mitchell said, in the current economic situation, it is one that is unforgivable. Let us cut out the nonsense about this. These air traffic controllers perform a vital function in this country. Their alleged reason for a dispute and walking off the job today is not acceptable. I repeat, it is not acceptable.

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: In the current climate, when people have lost their jobs, as Deputy Broughan has so often pointed out, and have taken cuts in pay and everything else, this is not the way to resolve the difficulties they have. Deputy Broughan asked me why there were suspensions. There were suspensions because the people were going into work and refusing to do the work they were doing up to 31 December 2009....

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The IAA decided-----

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy does not want to hear this. It did not sound as if he knew about it. He asked me why there were suspensions and I am telling him. It is because people who are well paid decided that they could go into work and not do what they were being asked to do, and challenge management because of another dispute they were having with regard to a 6% pay increase. That is why the...

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Having said that, it is important that both sides get into the Labour Court. The Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, has made it clear that it is willing to engage again. As I stated in my reply, the authority is willing to withdraw the suspensions and go to the Labour Court if it can be facilitated. I understand an early hearing could take place. The issue is very simple and straightforward....

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I will come back to the Deputy with an answer.

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: A number of points have been raised. I apologise to the Deputies regarding the questions they asked about a no-strike clause. Deputy O'Dowd referred to an exchange we had two years ago, although we had one more recently than that in late April last year.

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I have not changed my view on this issue. If anything, this action has strengthened my view. It is not a decision I can make on my own regarding specific areas. This option will have to be examined in a number of areas across a number of Departments. If this kind of disruption, and, as Deputy Broughan said, this disproportionate response to an industrial relations issue will be a feature...

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I am not saying that business is lost but this strike does not create the right impression of this country. There are times perhaps when strikes are necessary and when they are unavoidable, but given the current situation when we are trying to recover economically and show that we are fighting back, this kind of action is inexcusable.

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I acknowledge the comments that have been made by Deputies O'Dowd and Mitchell. I want to make it clear to Deputy Broughan that the Government has not withdrawn from social partnership.

Industrial Action. (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The Government is still ready, willing and able to engage in social partnership and to talk about the very necessary transformation that needs to take place in the public sector generally. Changes and transformation are required to provide the kind of service for our citizens that is needed, the kind of service we saw many frontline workers deliver during the past three or four weeks. We...

Written Answers — Rural Transport Services: Rural Transport Services (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Pobal administers the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) on behalf of my Department. The provision of services under the Programme is a matter for Pobal and the individual RTP groups who know where the transport needs are in their areas and how best to address them. Rural transport services in the South Tipperary area are provided by Carlow, Kilkenny & Tipperary South Riding Rural Transport...

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Details of publicly facing websites provided by my Department, approximate annual maintenance costs and statistics on unique site visits can be found in the table. Website Site Reference Number of unique visits in 2009 Annual maintenance cost€ (inc VAT) Department of Transport transport.ie 134,089 (Mar 09 – Dec 09) €12,000 Road Haulage roadhaulage.ie Not Available Air Accident...

Written Answers — National Transport Authority: National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I refer to my reply to Question No. 31 on 9 December 2009.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (20 Jan 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Negotiations between the Shannon Airport Authority and airlines are day-to-day operational matters for the authority and I have no statutory function in this regard. I have been informed however by the Shannon Airport Authority that while the current economic climate remains difficult that they will continue to work with all airlines to deliver commercially viable routes to the Shannon region.